L’Oulibo, in Bize-Minervois, in the Aude, or diving into the world of olives

A L'Oulibo, la visite commence par l'oliveraie pédagogique, avant de poursuivre au coeur du moulin. Midi Libre – Michael Esdourrubailh

Founded in 1942, the Aude mill is the leading producer of table olives, with 600 tonnes harvested per year. Since 2011, it has created an Odyssey of the Olive Tree that allows visitors to discover the culture and precious know-how of the mill.

At first glance, it looks more like you are arriving in front of a cooperative wine cellar than an olive oil mill. But don't be fooled by appearances. Behind this large and imposing building, there is indeed a mill at work. It is even one of the most important in France for the production of table olives.

Indeed, the Oulibo mill (translation of olive, in Occitan), in Bize-Minervois, in the east of Aude, on the border of the Hérault department, exudes real power. No less than 600 tonnes of olives pass through it, produced by the 750 olive growers with whom it cooperates, spread over three departments: Aude, Hérault and the Pyrénées-Orientales.

“The flagship variety is Lucques du Languedoc”

“The flagship variety of our olives is Lucques du Languedoc, classified AOP”, explains Jean-Marc Thibault, in charge of tourist activities. And tourists come every year, especially during the summer season. The mill is a choice stop on the holiday route. It is to meet the curiosity of holidaymakers that an industrial tourism activity has been developed.

Indeed, L’Oulibo launched guided tours in 2011 through "The Odyssey of the Olive Tree". This is a one and a half hour walk that tells the story of the expertise of the associated olive growers and that of the mill. "We tell the fascinating world of olive growing and the precious expertise of our mill". A tour inside and out that sums up the daily life of those who transform olives into a "fruit juice" thousand years old.

The olive tree is part of the local heritage

The craze is obvious. “2.5 liters of olive oil are consumed per year per person in France,” recalls Jean-Marc Thibault. This is certainly less than in countries like Spain, Italy or Greece, but it is far from negligible. Above all, the olive tree, the olive and olive oil are part of this local heritage that suits the region so well. Isn't the thousand-year-old, even eternal, tree closely associated with Mediterranean culture??

“Through our visits, we bring visitors into the world of the olive tree, of the Mediterranean. We enter the places of production”, insists the person responsible for tourist activities. This is why the visit begins first with a moment of presentation in the heart of the educational olive grove, located just in front of the mill. It is a plant area surrounded by olive trees, which allows you to understand in particular that more olive oil is produced by pressing black olives, rather than green. "Because they are juicier", explains Esther, the guide of the day.

A tree to which "we remain strongly attached"

We will also learn that the Lucques variety, the most prestigious, is "sorted by hand, one by one". The know-how is both "cultural and cultural". Particularly that of confectioners. This is the next step: we enter the lair of the mill, where two enormous granite wheels, the stone millstones, grind the fruit to extract the gold Green. “Even if the machine is electric, it is the same grinding method for two centuries”.

We understand better why the olive tree remains a “tree to which we remain strongly attached”. A tree “that never leaves anyone indifferent”. Strong, powerful but so endearing to Man. Like a symbol of life, of a link between the latter and the often arid nature that serves as its backdrop. But before leaving, time for olive oil tasting, to understand its characteristics and secrets. We become familiar with this eternal elixir, source of happiness.

L’Oulibo, 4 Hameau de Cabezac, Bise-Minervois. Tel.: 04 68 41 95 84. Visits every day from 10:30 a.m., 11 a.m., 3 p.m., 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m. Entrance: 6.50 euros for adults, 4.50 for children. Group and family rates. I subscribe to read more